Raphinha has revealed that he contemplated leaving Barcelona during a challenging period before speculation linked him to both Manchester United and Al-Nassr.
The Brazilian winger, who was signed by Barcelona for a substantial £55m ($72m) from Leeds United in 2022, has since found his stride under manager Hansi Flick.
His recent performances, including a standout display against Real Valladolid where he scored three goals and provided two assists in a 7-0 La Liga victory, have showcased the talent that Barcelona invested in.
However, Raphinha’s time in Spain has been anything but straightforward. His initial months at the club were marked by inconsistency, leading to questions about his future at the Catalan giants. In a frank interview with RAC1, Raphinha admitted that the early struggles made him seriously consider an exit.
“Did I consider leaving? Yes,” Raphinha confessed.
“The first six months were complicated for me and my family. After the World Cup, I improved and managed to finish the season well, but at the beginning, it was very challenging.”
He continued: “My adaptation to the club was difficult. I knew it was something that had to happen, but I didn’t expect it to be so tough on a personal level.
“It affected me mentally, and there were moments when I thought about leaving. Not at the end of the season, but in the first half. Barça is a huge club, and it’s normal for it to be difficult. I wasn’t used to that, but it happened quickly.”
As one of Barcelona’s key players, Raphinha has frequently been the subject of transfer rumours, particularly with potential moves to the Premier League or lucrative offers from Saudi Arabian clubs like Al-Nassr. Despite this, Raphinha has expressed frustration with the constant speculation and reaffirmed his commitment to Barcelona.
“It’s annoying to see rumours; it’s normal,” he said. “I’m not active on social media, but my wife and friends do see it. Every day there’s a different piece of news, whether I’m going here or there, and that ends up bothering you.
“The first six months were very hard. I’ve learned that in every transfer window, my name will be mentioned. But my head has always been here. Every season, I think about doing more than the previous one and proving that I’m capable of being here for many years.”
With Barcelona enjoying a strong start to the new season, Raphinha is focused on helping the club achieve its ambitions. He is clear about his goals, stating that the minimum expectation for Barcelona should be to win the Champions League.
“The minimum objective is to win,” he asserted. When asked if he was referring to the Champions League, he replied:
“Of course. It has to be this one. Playing for Barca means that the main objective is to win all the titles: the League, the Champions League, the Cup, the Super Cup… If you are in a club like this and you don’t set yourself that objective, you are in the wrong place.”
Looking ahead, Raphinha’s immediate focus will shift to international duties with Brazil as they face Ecuador and Paraguay in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Brazil currently sits sixth in the CONMEBOL standings, and the Selecao are in need of a spark to improve their position. After fulfilling his national team commitments, Raphinha will return to Barcelona, where he will be keen to continue his impressive form when they take on Girona on September 15.
Raphinha’s journey at Barcelona has been one of resilience and adaptation, a testament to his determination to succeed at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Despite the early challenges and the constant swirl of transfer rumours, the Brazilian winger remains focused on his mission to bring glory to Barcelona and to prove that he belongs at the very top of European football.